Appeal Court upholds man’s jail sentence for fraud

The Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on Wednesday held that a businessman, Odibo F. Kronaghea, was validly convicted of fraud by the Federal High Court, Lagos.

Kronaghea was sentenced to seven years imprisonment for fraud on April 5 last year.

The court dismissed for want of merit, two appeals filed last September by Kronaghea and a firm, Confido Consult Services Limited.

The convict had appealed the sentence, while the company challenged the N50,000 fine imposed on it by Justice Kudirat Jose of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja.

Through their counsel, Mr. Ahmed Ojekunle, the appellants prayed the court to upturn their conviction because the charges were defective, not proven and that the lower court judge misdirected himself.

This was opposed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) through its counsel, Mr. George Chia-Yakua.

But a three-man panel of the appellate court led by Justice Y. B. Nimpar affirmed Justice Jose’s verdict.

Justice Nimpar held: “The appeal is unmeritorious and is hereby dismissed. The judgment of the lower court is affirmed.”

The EFCC arraigned the appellants on October 15, 2015, on three-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and issuance of dud cheque to the tune of N2 million.